ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE
TABLE 3
Hazard Identification and Recognition Matrix
Hazard
Description and Work Process
Exposure and Control Activity
Reference
Acid-mist, lime, or flux material exposure
Acid pickling process involves the removal of oxides and scales on steel wires and strip steel, as well as the processing of stainless steel sheets Flux materials include lime and limestone products Prevalent in the chrome plating of steel rolls for better strip surface and cleanness Potential use includes environmental remediation in the metal and metallurgical industries Engineered nanoparticles are also found in metal fabrication, the solidification of metals, and thermomechanical processing Exposure to employees during downtime or during planned yearly maintenance Sulfur dioxide emissions; coal by- products (e.g., ashes); and other environmental pollutants such as particulates, gases, oils, and tar Potential for greenhouse gas emissions Potential for interaction with sharp steel products to operators, contractors, and customers Heat stress proximity of electric arc and blast furnaces, casting, and melting and reheat furnace areas can be indoor high- risk areas for heat stress in employees Not uncommon for areas of debanding to have noise levels of 80–110 dBA Impact noise hazards
Use of sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and nitric acid can create acid mists in carbon steel or stainless steel Impacts to communities can occur via hazardous air pollutants Exposure job tasks include pickling tanks, handling of the acid, or acid-transfer stations
Fenton, 1996; Fox et al., 1993; U.S. EPA, 2003, 2012, 2021
Exposure to hexavalent and trivalent chromium
Alvarez et al., 2021; Saha et al., 2011; Shelnutt et al., 2007; Stern et al., 1993 Arnold et al., 2016; Bagbi et al., 2018; Borodianskiy & Zinigrad, 2016; Kaviarasu & Ravichandran, 2021
Worker exposure can result in lung cancer, nasal cancer, skin sensitization, asthma, and dermal irritation
Exposure to engineered nanoparticles
Most materials do not have PELs/OELs except for titanium dioxides and carbon nanotubes Control activities include a checklist for the Rule of 10, hazard vapor ratio, and particulate hazard ratio Consider precautionary principles in situations with or without OELs and limited data Worker exposure can result in silicosis, genotoxicity, pulmonary fibrosis, and other related health effects Environmental monitoring beyond the fence lines for sulfur dioxide, dust, sludge, and other particulates (PM 2.5 ; PM 10 ) Carbonaceous materials are a cause for a major class of nanoparticles such as spherical fullerenes (e.g., carbon 60) Sharp injuries have been identified, recognized, and evaluated since the 1800s Efforts to automate job task operations are under study Cut-abrasive-puncture-resistance glove tests are planned Occurs principally during the summer months Consider controls such as large industrial fans, water stations, and planned work regimens (i.e., administrative controls) Implement a management program for heat stress
Silica exposure
Green & Vallyathan, 1995; Wallace et al., 2006 Prabhu & Cilione, 1992; U.S. DOE, n.d.; U.S. EPA, 1995, 2022
Coal processing in a furnace (e.g., open hearth furnace, electric arc furnace, basic oxygen furnace) Sharp injuries (e.g., hand safety)
Chaney & Hanna, 1918; Kossoris & Kjaer, 1936; Ong et al., 1987; Perelman, 2016; Rajak et al., 2022
Heat stress
Bardhan et al., 2021
Occupational noise
Hazard mapping to identify areas and tasks Exposure can result in noise-induced hearing loss
Nyarubeli et al., 2018
continued
process can present multiple hazards, includ- ing noise and projectile objects from deband- ing tasks. These hazards can aect not only employees but also contractors, visitors, and consumers of these products if information on proper handling is not communicated. Previously, workers would manually cut the bands that hold the coils together to spring open the coils. Because the bands are under high tension, they can release kinetic energy and cause severe or fatal injuries. These manual banding and debanding tasks for raw steel coils present ergonomic hazards, severe sharp injuries, and heat stress, particu- larly during the summer months for North
American companies. Major companies in this sector are using their resources to modernize operations through the installation of robotic equipment for these jobs and tasks (Chan, 1998; Radian Robotics, n.d.). This moderniza- tion, however, has created new hazards such as noise, which therefore requires assessment. In the workplace or community situations where multiple sources of noise hazards are being experienced, a simplified tool (Equation 2) is used to assess exposure scenarios that can be compared with OELs relative to the time of exposure (ACGIH, 2023). The results can then be used for risk characterization of occu- pational or nonoccupational noise.
C1 T1
C2 T2
C3
C4 T4
x =
+
+
+
T3
C5
Cn Tn
+
+
T5
(2)
Where Cn in the equation is the amount of time exposed to noise levels from source n and Tn is the amount of time required by the OEL for compliance purposes. An approach for occupational noise exposure assessment and rating is part of a strategy for comprehensive assessment (Hager & Johnson, 2015). This tool is available for assessing occu- pational noise and characterizing and prioritiz- ing risks for hearing impairment (Table 5).
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